Electronic apparatus having battery receptacle at the rear of keyboard

ABSTRACT

According to one embodiment of the invention, an electronic apparatus comprises a housing including a keyboard mount portion. A keyboard is mounted on the keyboard mount portion. The keyboard has a plurality of fixing pieces. The fixing pieces are protruded at the rear of the keyboard mount portion, and are removably fixed to the housing. A receptacle on which a module is removably mounted is provided in the housing. The receptacle is located between the fixing pieces at the rear of the keyboard mount portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromprior Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-396021, filed Nov. 26, 2003,the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments of the invention relate to an electronic apparatus having,for example, a computer module such as a battery pack allocated at therear of a keyboard.

2. Description of the Related Art

For example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 11-175186(reference 1) discloses an electronic apparatus such as a portablecomputer comprising a keyboard at the top surface of a housing. Thekeyboard has a keyboard frame and a plurality of keys allocated at thetop surface of the keyboard frame. The keyboard frame is removablysupported at a keyboard mount portion formed on the top surface of thehousing. The keyboard mount portion is formed as a recessed area thatopens on the top surface of the housing, and its size corresponds to thekeyboard frame.

At the front edge, the keyboard frame removably hangs at the front endpart of the keyboard mount portion. The rear edge of the keyboard frameis held at the rear end part of the keyboard mount portion via akeyboard holder made of a synthetic resin.

The keyboard holder is formed in an elongated rod shape that extendsalong the rear edge of the keyboard frame. The keyboard holder has aplurality of engagement claws. The engagement claws are removablyengaged at the rear end part of the keyboard mount portion. By thisengagement, the keyboard holder is held in the housing, and the rearedge of the keyboard frame is sandwiched between the keyboard holder andthe keyboard mount portion.

On the other hand, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2001-102018(reference 2) discloses an electronic apparatus such as a portablecomputer having a battery pack mounted at the rear end part of a housinghaving a keyboard. The housing of this electronic apparatus comprises abattery receptacle that removably supports the battery pack. The batteryreceptacle is provided between a pair of hinges that rotatably support adisplay unit, and is located at the rear of a keyboard mount portion.

In view of these references, if a keyboard holder is employed to fixthat keyboard, it must be interposed between the keyboard mount portionand the battery receptacle. As a result, the gap between the keyboardmount portion and the battery receptacle unavoidably increases. Anincrease in the dimensional depth of the housing poses an obstacle inthe achievement of compactness of the electronic apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments ofthe invention, and together with the general description given above andthe detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary perspective view of a portable computer accordingto a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary plan view of the portable computer according tothe first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary perspective view of the portable computer showinga positional relationship between a battery receptacle of a housing anda hinge bracket for rotatably supporting a display unit according to thefirst embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary perspective view showing a positionalrelationship between a fixing piece at the left side of a keyboard and areceiving portion at the left side of the housing according to the firstembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary perspective view showing a positionalrelationship between a fixing piece at the right side of the keyboardand a receiving portion at the right side of the housing according tothe first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line F6-F6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line F7-F7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line F8-F8 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is an exemplary perspective view of a cover for covering thereceiving portion of the housing according to the first embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary perspective view when the cover for covering thereceiving portion of the housing is seen from the bottom side accordingto the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is an exemplary perspective view of the portable computershowing the shape of the battery receptacle according to the firstembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is an exemplary plan view of the portable computer showing astate in which a battery pack is inserted into the battery receptacle ofthe housing according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 is an exemplary perspective view of the battery pack for useaccording to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 is an exemplary perspective view of a portable computeraccording to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is an exemplary sectional view of the portable computer showinga state in which a battery pack is mounted on a battery receptacle of ahousing according to the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 16 is an exemplary plan view of a portable computer according to athird embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along the line F17-F17 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is an exemplary plan view of a portable computer according to afourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along the line L19-L19 of FIG. 18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention willbe described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13.

FIG. 1 discloses a portable computer 1 as an electronic apparatus. Theportable computer 1 comprises a computer main unit 2 and a display unit3. The computer main unit 2 has a metallic housing 4. The housing 4 isformed in a flat box shape having a bottom wall 4 a, a top wall 4 b,left and right side walls 4 c, a front wall 4 d, and a rear wall 4 e.

Recess portions 5 a and 5 b are formed at the corner defined by the sidewall 4 c and rear wall 4 e of the housing 4. The recess portions 5 a and5 b are positioned at the rear end of the housing 4, and are spaced fromeach other in the widthwise direction of the housing 4.

The display unit 3 comprises a display housing 7 and a liquid crystaldisplay panel 8. The display housing 7 is formed in a flat box shapewhose size is equal to that of the housing 4, and has a pair of legportions 9 a and 9 b at one end part of the display panel 7. The legportions 9 a and 9 b are spaced from each other in the widthwisedirection of the display housing 7, and enter the recess portions 5 aand 5 b of the housing 4.

The liquid crystal display panel 8 is housed in the display housing 7.The liquid crystal display panel 8 has a screen 8 a that displays animage. The screen 8 a is exposed outwardly of the display housing 7through an opening 10 formed at the front surface of the display housing7.

As shown in FIG. 3, the display unit 3 is supported in the housing 4 viaa pair of hinges 11. Each of the hinges 11 has a hinge shaft 12overhanging between each leg portions 9 a and 9 b and the housing 4. Thehinge shaft 12 is horizontally allocated along the widthwise directionof the housing 4. At one end, the hinge shaft 12 is rotatably supportedin the housing 4 via a bracket 13. At the other end, the hinge shaft 12is fixed to the display housing 7 via another bracket (not shown).

The display unit 3 is rotatable between a closed position and an openposition around the hinge shaft 12. At the closed position, the displayunit 3 lies on the housing 4 so as to cover the computer main unit 2from above. At the open position, the display unit 3 is erected relevantto the computer main unit 2 so as to expose the top wall 4 b of thehousing 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 4 comprises a keyboard mount portion 15and a battery receptacle 16. The keyboard mount portion 15 is formed ina rectangular recess portion that opens on the top surface of the topwall 4 b. This keyboard mount portion supports a keyboard 17. As shownin FIGS. 4 to 6, the keyboard 17 has a keyboard frame 18 and a pluralityof keys 19. The keyboard frame 18 is provided as a metal plate sized toengage with the keyboard mount portion 15. The keyboard frame 18overlaps on a bottom face 15 a of the keyboard mount portion 15. Thekeys 19 are supported on the top surface of the keyboard frame 18.

As shown in FIG. 2, the keyboard frame 18 has a front edge portion 20 aand a rear edge portion 20 b extending in the widthwise direction of thehousing 4. The front edge portion 20 a of the keyboard frame ISremovably hangs on the front end part of the keyboard mount portion 15.As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the keyboard frame 18 has a pair of fasteners(referred to as “fixing pieces” 21 a and 21 b). The fixing pieces 21 aand 21 b protrude from the left end part and right end part of the rearedge portion 20 b of the keyboard frame 18 toward the rear of thekeyboard 17, each of which has a through hole 22.

A pair of receiving portions 24 a and 24 b is formed on the top wall 4 bof the housing 4. The receiving portions 24 a and 24 b are provided asrecesses to receive the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b of the keyboard 17.Receiving portions 24 a and 24 b are located between recess portions 5 aand 5 b of the housing 4 and the keyboard mount portion 15. Thereceiving portion 24 a and 24 b are spaced from each other in thewidthwise direction of the housing 4, and open respectively at the leftend and right end of the rear portion of the keyboard mount portion 15.Further, each receiving portion 24 a and 24 b has a bottom face 25. Thebottom face 25 is continuous on a bottom face 15 a of the keyboard mountportion 15. A boss portion 27 having a screw hole 26 and a pair ofengagement holes 28 are formed on the bottom face 25 (see FIG. 8).

In a state in which the keyboard frame 18 is mounted on the keyboardmount portion 15, the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b enter the receivingportions 24 a and 24 b, respectively, and overlap on the top surface ofthe boss portion 27. A screw 29 is inserted from above into the throughhole 22 of each of the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b. The screw 29 ismounted into the screw hole 26 of the boss portion 27. By this screwmounting, the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b of the keyboard frame 18 arefixed to the housing 4.

As shown in FIG. 6, a boss portion 30 is formed on the bottom face ofthe keyboard frame 18. The boss portion 30 is positioned between thefixing pieces 21 a and 21 b, and is exposed to the inside of the housing4. Another screw 31 is overhung between the boss portion 30 and thebottom wall 4 a of the housing 4. The screw 31 is mounted into the bossportion 30 through the bottom wall 4 a of the housing 4. By this screwmounting, a relief at the center of the keyboard 17 relevant to thekeyboard mount portion 15 is suppressed. From this fact, the keyboard 17is fixed to the housing 4 at two locations of the rear edge portion 20 bof the keyboard frame 18 and at one location of the center.

A cover 33 made of a synthetic resin is engaged into each of thereceiving portions 24 a and 24 b of the housing 4. As shown in FIGS. 7to 10, the cover 33 comprises: a table top 34 that closes an opening endof each of the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b; a support wall 35 thatextends downwardly from the front end portion of the table top 34; and apair of engagement claws 36 that protrude downwardly from the table top34.

When the cover 33 is engaged with each of the receiving portions 24 aand 24 b, the engagement claws 36 each hang on the engagement holes 28of the bottom face 25 of the receiving portions 24 a and 24 brespectively, and hold the cover 33 on the housing 4. In this manner,the top surface of the table top 34 of the cover 33 is located on asurface which is identical to the top surface of the top wall 4 b of thehousing 4.

The support wall 35 of the cover 33 is located immediately preceding thekeys 19 on the last column of the keyboard 17, and its lower end comesinto contact with the top surface of the rear end portion 20 b of thekeyboard frame 18. Thus, the support wall 35 of the cover 33 sandwichesthe rear edge portion 20 b of the keyboard frame 18 between the supportwall 35 and the bottom surface 15 a of the keyboard mount portion 15.Therefore, the cover 33 is compatible with a function of holding thekeyboard 17 on the keyboard mount portion 15.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the battery receptacle 16 is a recessedportion formed by continuous openings in the bottom wall 4 a, the topwall 4 b, and the rear wall 4 e of the housing 4. The battery receptacle16 has left and right guide walls 41 a and 41 b and a front end wall 42.The battery receptacle 16 extends in the widthwise direction of thehousing 4 at the rear of the keyboard mount portion 15, and is locatedbetween the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b for fixing the fixingpieces 21 a and 21 b of the keyboard 17.

In other words, the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b are formed inregions of the top wall 4 b of the housing 4 which are spaced at theleft side and right side of the battery receptacle 16. Thus, a fixingportion, being a combination of the receiving portions 24 a and 24 bengaged with their corresponding fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b, aredistributed in the widthwise direction of the housing 4. The batteryreceptacle 16 is situated between these fixing portions.

Each of the guide walls 41 a and 41 b of the battery receptacle 16 has aguide rail 43. The guide rail 43 is exposed to the battery receptacle16, and extends horizontally along the depth direction of the housing 4.As shown in FIG. 6, the front end wall 42 of the battery receptacle 16is located downwardly of the rear portion of the keyboard mount portion15 toward an interior of the housing 4, and thus, this front end wall 42is located below the last column of keys 19. As a result, the keyboardmount portion 15 and the battery receptacle 16 overlap each other in thedepth direction of the housing 4.

A pair of latches 44 a and 44 b and a connector receptacle 45 areallocated on the front end wall 42 of the battery receptacle 16. Thelatches 44 a and 44 b are located at the left end part and right endpart of the front end wall 42, and are exposed to the battery receptacle16. The latches 44 a and 44 b can slide between a locked position and anunlocked position, and are held at the locked position via a spring (notshown). The connector receptacle 45 is exposed to the battery receptacle16 between the latches 44 a and 44 b.

An eject lever 46 and a lock lever 47 are allocated at the bottom wall 4a of the housing 4. The eject lever 46 is operated by a fingertip whenthe latches 44 a and 44 b are slid from the locked position to theunlocked position. The lock lever 47 is provided to hold the eject lever46 at the locked position. These levers 46, 47 are adjacent to thebattery receptacle 16.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 12, the battery receptacle 16 removably supportsa battery pack 50, which serves as a module. The battery pack 50 isprovided as a power source when the portable computer 1 is used inlocation where a commercially available alternating current power sourcecannot be obtained. The battery pack 50 comprises: a plurality ofbatteries 51 which are incorporated in the pack; and a case 52 made of asynthetic resin, the case housing these batteries 51.

The case 52 is formed in an elongated hollow box shaped for engagementwith the battery receptacle 16. The case 52 comprises left and rightside surfaces 52 a and 52 b which face the guide walls 41 a and 41 b ofthe battery receptacle 16, respectively; and a top end surface 52 cwhich faces the front end wall 42 of the battery receptacle 16. The case52 is inserted into the battery receptacle 16 from the rear of thehousing 4. By this insertion, the guide rails 43 slidably enters guidegrooves 53 formed on the side surfaces 52 a and 52 b of the case 52.Therefore, the insertion direction of the case 52 is guided, and thecase 52 is held at the battery receptacle 16.

As shown in FIGS. 11-13, a pair of lock claws 54 a and 54 b and abattery connector 55 are allocated on a top end surface 52 c of the case52. The lock claws 54 a and 54 b hang on the latches 44 a and 44 b whenthe case 52 is mounted at a predetermined position of the batteryreceptacle 16. In this manner, the battery pack 50 is locked with thebattery receptacle 16. The battery connector 55 is located between thelock claws 54 a and 54 b, and is electrically connected to the connectorreceptacle 45 when the lock claws 54 a and 54 b hang on the latches 44 aand 44 b.

Further, the case 52 has a bottom surface 56 a, a top surface 56 b, anda rear surface 56 c. Each of these surfaces 56 a to 56 c is exposedoutwardly of the battery receptacle 16 when the battery pack 50 ismounted on the battery receptacle 16. In addition, these surfacesconfigure a part of the exterior of the housing 4.

As shown in FIG. 6, in a state in which the battery pack 50 is mountedon the battery receptacle 16, the front end portion of the battery pack50 enters below the rear end portion 20 b of the keyboard panel 18.Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6, 11 and 13, the top end surface 52 cof the case 52, a connection portion between the connector receptacle 45and the battery connector 55 and engagement portions between the latches44 a and 44 b and the lock claws 54 a and 54 b are covered below therear end portion 20 b of the keyboard panel 18.

Therefore, the keyboard 17 and the battery pack 50 are supported in thehousing 4 in a state in which they have overlapped each other in thedepth direction of the housing 4. In addition, the front end of the topsurface 56 b of the battery pack 50 is located immediately following thekeys 19 on the last column of the keyboard 17.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention as such, thebattery receptacle 16 of the housing 4 is located between the receivingportions 24 a and 24 b affixing the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b of thekeyboard 17. Thus, the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b do not enter betweenthe keyboard mount portion 15 and the battery receptacle 16, and thebattery receptacle 16 can be made as close to the keyboard mount portion15 as possible.

Moreover, the front end of the battery pack 50 is covered beneath therear edge portion 20 b of the keyboard frame 18 so that the battery pack50 and the keyboard 17 can be overlapped on each other in the depthdirection of the housing 4.

As a result, a gap between the battery receptacle 16 and the keyboardmount portion 15 is reduced, and the dimensional depth of the housing 4can be reduced, making it possible to achieve the compactness of theportable computer 1.

Further, the battery receptacle 16 has a shape that allows the bottomsurface 56 a, top surface 56 b, and rear surface 56 c of the case 52 ofthe battery pack 50 to be exposed and uncovered by the housing 4. Thus,the bottom wall 4 a and top wall 4 b of the housing 4 do not overlapwith the battery pack 50, and the housing 4 can be formed to be thin andcompact in comparison with a case in which the battery pack 50 is storedat the inside of the housing 4.

In the above-described first embodiment, although the fixing pieces 21 aand 21 b of the keyboard frame 18 have been affixed to the receivingportions 24 a and 24 b of the housing 4 via the screws 29, the presentinvention is not limited thereto.

For example, with an engagement force generated when the cover 33 isengaged with the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b, the fixing pieces 21a and 21 b may be sandwiched between the support wall 35 of this cover33 and the bottom surface 25 of each of the receiving portions 24 a and24 b. With this configuration, the screws 29 are eliminated. Inaddition, with a work of merely mounting and removing the cover 33, thekeyboard 17 can be locked with or unlocked from the keyboard mountportion 15.

Further, the battery receptacle is formed in a shape opening on only therear wall of the housing so that the battery pack may be stored at theinside of the housing.

The present invention is not specifically limited to the above-describedfirst embodiment. FIGS. 14 and 15 each show a second exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

In the second embodiment, receiving portions 24 a and 24 b of a housing4 are formed in location seen at the upper end part of a batteryreceptacle 16. Each of the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b is formed ina grooved shape that extends in the depth direction of the housing 4.The front end of each receiving portion 24 a and 24 b opens at the rearend part of a keyboard mount portion 15, and the rear end opens at thecorner part defined by the top wall 4 b and a rear wall 4 e. Thus, anallocation gap is situated between the receiving portions 24 a and 24 band each of the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b is affixed to a boss portion27 of the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b.

A case 52 of a battery pack 50 has cover portions 61 a and 61 b, whichlaterally overhang the left end part and right end part of a top surface56 of the case, respectively. The cover portions 61 a and 61 b cover thereceiving portions 24 a and 24 b and the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 bfrom above when the battery pack 50 is mounted at a predeterminedposition of the battery receptacle 16. In addition, these cover portionsare designed to be located on a surface substantially identical to thetop wall 4 b of the housing 4.

A support wall 62, extending obliquely downward, is formed at the frontend of each of the cover portions 61 a and 61 b. The support wall 62comes into contact with a rear edge portion 20 b of a keyboard frame 18from above when the battery pack 50 is mounted at a predeterminedposition in the battery receptacle 16. This support wall 62 sandwichesthis rear edge portion 20 b between the support wall 62 and the keyboardmount portion 15.

In such a configuration, the battery pack 50 is inserted into thebattery receptacle 16 from the rear of the housing 4, namely betweeneach of the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b. The boss portion 27 is coveredfrom above with the cover portions 61 a and 61 b of the case 52.

From this fact, in a state in which the battery pack 50 is mounted onthe battery receptacle 16, the fixing portions, namely the fixing pieces21 a and 21 b and their corresponding receiving portions 24 a and 24 b(and optionally boss portion 27) cannot be seen from the outside. Thesefixing portions are exposed to the top wall 4 b of the housing 4 whenthe battery pack 50 is removed from the battery receptacle 16.Therefore, exclusive covers for covering the fixing portions associatedwith the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b and their respective boss portion27 are eliminated, and the number of parts can be reduced.

In addition, the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b are fixed to the receivingportions 24 a and 24 b by fastening elements (e.g., screws 29). Thus,even in a state in which the battery pack 50 is removed from the batteryreceptacle 16, the keyboard 17 is not unlocked.

Further, the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b for affixing the fixingpieces 21 a and 21 b of the keyboard 17 are located at the left side andright side of the battery receptacle 16. Thus, the fixing pieces 21 aand 21 b are not interposed between the keyboard mount portion 15 andthe battery receptacle 16. Therefore, a gap between the batteryreceptacle 16 and the keyboard mount portion 15 can be reduced to theminimum, and the dimensional depth of the housing 4 can be reduced.

Moreover, the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b formed on the top wall 4b of the housing 4 approach the battery receptacle 16, and an allocationgap between these receiving portion 24 a and 24 b is reduced. Thus,among the top wall 4 b, wide free spaces can be provided at the leftside and right side of the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b, and thesefree spaces can allocate an icon or a control knob, for example.

FIGS. 16 and 17 each disclose a third exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in thepositions of the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b of the keyboard frame 18and in the shape of the case 52 of the battery pack 50. The otherconstituent elements of the portable computer 1 are similar to thoseaccording to the first embodiment of the invention. Thus, in the thirdembodiment of the invention, similar constituent elements in the firstembodiment are designated by similar reference numerals. A duplicatedescription is omitted here.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, a battery receptacle 16 opens the rear endof a keyboard mount portion 15. The fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b of thekeyboard frame 18 are protruded from a rear end portion 20 b of thekeyboard frame 18 to the battery receptacle 16. These fixing pieces 21 aand 21 b are adjacent to left and right guide walls 41 a and 41 b of thebattery receptacle 16.

A front end wall 42 of the battery receptacle 16 has a pair of armportions 71 (only one of them is shown) overhanging at the batteryreceptacle 16 along the guide walls 41 a and 41 b. A boss portion 73having a screw hole 72 is formed at each of the tip end parts of the armportions 71, and the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b are overlapped on thetop surface of the boss portion 73. A screw 74 is inserted from aboveinto a through hole 22 of the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b. The screw 74is attached to the screw hole 72. By this attachment, the fixing pieces21 a and 21 b of the keyboard frame 18 are fixed to the boss portions73. Thus, two locations at the rear end part of the keyboard 17 arefixed to the housing 4 at the inside of the battery receptacle 16.

The case 52 of the battery pack 50 has: a housing chamber 76 for housingbatteries 51; and a pair of hollow cover portions 77. The cover portions77 are provided to cover the fixing portions associated with the fixingpieces 21 a and 21 b and their respective boss portions 73. The coverportions 77 are located at the left end part and right end part of thehousing chamber 76, and open on a top end surface 52 c of the case 52.

As shown in FIG. 17, the case 52 has a support wall 78, which extendsobliquely downward at the front end of a top surface 56 b thereof. Thesupport wall 78 extends along the widthwise direction of the case 52,and overhangs between the front end parts of the cover portions 77. Thesupport wall 78 upwardly comes into contact with a rear edge portion 20b of the keyboard frame 18 when the battery pack 50 is mounted at apredetermined position of the battery receptacle 16. This support wall78 sandwiches the rear end portion 20 b between the support wall 78 andthe keyboard mount portion 15.

With such a configuration, when the battery pack 50 is inserted into thebattery receptacle 16 from the rear of the housing 4, the fixingportions associated with each of the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b (e.g.,fixing piece 21 b as shown) and their boss portion 73 are positionedinside of the cover portion 77 of the case 52. Then, the fixing portionsare covered with this cover portion 77.

From this fact, in a state in which the battery pack 50 is mounted onthe battery receptacle 16, the fixing portions associated with fixingpiece 21 a and 21 b and their corresponding receiving portions 24 a and24 b (and optionally with the boss portion 73) cannot be seen from theoutside. These fixing portions are exposed to this battery receptacle 16when the battery pack 50 is removed from the battery receptacle 16.Therefore, an executive cover for covering the fixing portions may beeliminated, reducing the number of parts used.

Further, the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b of the keyboard 17 are fixed tothe boss portion 73 of the housing 4 at the inside of the batteryreceptacle 16. Thus, these fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b do not enterbetween the keyboard mount portion 15 and the battery receptacle 16.Therefore, a gap between the battery receptacle 16 and the keyboardmount portion 15 can be reduced to the minimum, and the dimensionaldepth of the housing 4 can be reduced.

FIGS. 18 and 19 each disclose a fourth exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

The fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment inconfiguration for affixing the rear end part of the keyboard 17 to thehousing 4. The other constituent elements of the portable computer 1 aresimilar to those according to the first embodiment of the invention.Thus, in the fourth embodiment of the invention, similar constituentelements in the first embodiment are designated by similar referencenumerals. A duplicate description is omitted here.

As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, a keyboard frame 18 of the keyboard 17 hasa pair of fixing pieces 81 a and 81 b. The fixing pieces 81 a and 81 bare bent downwardly at a right angle from the left end part and rightend part of the rear edge portion 20 b of the keyboard frame 18. Thefixing pieces 81 a and 81 b are extruded to the front end of a batteryreceptacle 16 via through holes 82 opening on a bottom surface 15 a of akeyboard mount portion 15. Each of these fixing pieces has a throughhole 83 at each of their protrusion end parts.

A front end wall 42 of the battery receptacle 16 has a pair of bossportions 85 each having a screw hole 84. The boss portions 85 areprotruded from the left end part and right end part of the front endwall 42 to the battery receptacle 16, and the fixing pieces 81 a and 81b are overlapped at the protrusion ends of the boss portions 85.

Screws 86 are inserted from the rear side into the through hole 83 ofthe fixing pieces 81 a and 81 b. The screw 86 is mounted into the screwhole 84 of the boss portion 85. By this screw mounting, the fixingpieces 81 a and 81 b of the keyboard frame 18 are fixed to the bossportions 85. Thus, two locations at the rear end part of the keyboard 17are fixed to the housing 4 at the inside of the battery receptacle 16.

A case 52 of a battery pack 50 has recess portions 88 (only one of themis shown) at the left end part and right end part of the front endthereof. The recess portions 88 each are formed at the positionscorresponding to the boss portions 85 of the battery receptacle 16.Thus, when the battery pack 50 is mounted at a predetermined position ofthe battery receptacle 16, the head of the screw 86, the fixing pieces81 a and 81 b, and the boss portion 85 each are designed to enter theinside of the recess portion 88. Therefore, fixing portions being thefixing pieces 81 a and 81 b and their respective boss portions 85 arecovered with the case 52 of the battery pack 50.

With such a configuration, in a state in which the battery pack 50 ismounted on the battery receptacle 16, the fixing portions associatedwith the fixing pieces 81 a and 81 b and their boss portions 85 cannotbe seen from the outside. These fixing portions are exposed to the frontend of this battery receptacle 16 when the battery pack 50 is removedfrom the battery receptacle 16. Therefore, covers for covering thefixing portions are eliminated, and thus, the number of parts can bereduced.

Further, the fixing pieces 81 a and 81 b of the keyboard 17 are bentdownwardly at a right angle from the rear edge part 20 b to be locatedat the inside of the battery receptacle 16. The fixing pieces 81 a and81 b are interposed between a front end wall 42 of the batteryreceptacle 16 and the front end of the battery pack 50. Thus, the fixingpieces 81 a and 81 b of the keyboard 17 are not interposed between thekeyboard mount portion 15 and the battery receptacle 16. Therefore, agap between the battery receptacle 16 and the keyboard mount portion 15can be reduced to the minimum, and the dimensional depth of the housing4 can be reduced.

In addition, the fixing pieces 81 a and 81 b of the keyboard 17 arepositioned at the inside of the battery receptacle 16 so that wide freespaces can be provided at the left side and right side of the batteryreceptacle 16 among the top wall 4 b of the housing 4. Thus, an icon ora control knob can be allocated in a free space.

In the present invention, a module mounted in a housing is notspecifically limited to a battery pack, and other pack shaped devicesmay be employed.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects isnot limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shownand described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventiveconcept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

1-7. (canceled)
 8. An electronic apparatus comprising: a housingincluding a keyboard mount portion formed on a top surface of thehousing, the keyboard mount portion including a front portion and a rearportion; a receptacle provided in the housing, the receptacle beinglocated proximate to the rear of the keyboard mount portion; a keyboardincluding a plurality of fasteners protruding from the rear portion ofthe keyboard mount portion adjacent to the receptacle when mounted atthe keyboard mount portion, the keyboard being removably affixed to thetop surface of the housing; and a module removably coupled to thereceptacle of the housing.
 9. The electronic apparatus claim 8, whereinthe module includes a cover portion positioned above the plurality offasteners and the housing when the module is coupled to the receptacle.10. The electronic apparatus claim 8, wherein a front end of thereceptacle is located downwardly from the keyboard mount portion. 11.The electronic apparatus claim 8, wherein the module includes a caseincluding a battery pack housed by the cover portion.
 12. An electronicapparatus comprising: a housing including a keyboard mount portion and areceptacle, the receptacle being located at a rear of the keyboard mountportion; a keyboard mounted on the keyboard mount portion, the keyboardincluding a plurality of fasteners protruding toward the receptacle andbeing removably affixed to the housing; and a module removably coupledto the receptacle of the housing, the module including a cover portionwhich covers the plurality of fasteners when the module is coupled tothe receptacle.
 13. The electronic apparatus claim 12, wherein themodule includes a case housing a battery pack, the case is removablymounted on the receptacle, and the cover portion is provided in thecase.
 14. The electronic apparatus claim 12, wherein a front end of thereceptacle is located below the keyboard mount portion of the housing.15. The electronic apparatus claim 12, wherein the plurality offasteners of the keyboard each are affixed to the housing via a screw.16. An electronic apparatus comprising: a housing including a keyboardmount portion; a receptacle provided in the housing, the receptaclebeing a recessed portion formed at the rear wall of the housing andcontinuing toward a rear of the keyboard mount portion of the housing; amodule removably mounted on the receptacle; and a keyboard provided atthe keyboard mount portion, the keyboard including a plurality offasteners interposed between the receptacle and the module, theplurality of fasteners being removably affixed to the housing and beingcovered with the module.
 17. The electronic apparatus claim 16, whereina front end of the receptacle is located below the keyboard mountportion, and a front end of the module is situated below the keyboard.18. The electronic apparatus claim 16, wherein each of the plurality offasteners of the keyboard are affixed to the housing via a screw. 19.The electronic apparatus claim 16, wherein the housing further comprisesa plurality of receiving portions positioned proximate to the rear ofthe keyboard mount portion and to which the plurality of fasteners areaffixed.
 20. The electronic apparatus claim 19, wherein the receptacleis interposed between the plurality of receiving portions along awidthwise direction of the housing.
 21. The electronic apparatus ofclaim 9, wherein the housing includes a plurality of receiving portionsto which the plurality of fasteners are affixed.
 22. The electronicapparatus of claim 21, wherein the cover portion of the module coversthe plurality of fasteners and the plurality of receiving portions. 23.The electronic apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cover portion of themodule has a support wall extending downward, the support wallcontacting the keyboard to sandwich the keyboard between the supportwall and the keyboard mount portion when the module is coupled to thereceptacle.
 24. The electronic apparatus of claim 12, wherein thehousing has a boss portion receiving each of the fasteners, the bossportion being positioned inside of the receptacle.
 25. The electronicapparatus of claim 12, wherein the plurality of the fasteners of thekeyboard are spaced from each other in a widthwise direction of thehousing.
 26. The electronic apparatus of claim 12, wherein thereceptacle is a recessed portion formed by continuous openings at abottom wall, a top wall and a rear wall of the housing, and a front endportion of the receptacle is located below the keyboard mount portion.27. The electronic apparatus of claim 18 wherein the plurality offasteners are exposed out of the housing when removing the module fromthe receptacle.